Sharing canyons with fighter jets in Wales
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
Young Australian’s 2019 MX2 World Championship plans finalised.
Image: Supplied.
North Queenslander Mitch Evans’ move to Team Honda 114 Motorsports has been made official, set to contest the 2019 MX2 World Championship full-time.
Evans, 20, confirmed in November that he had secured a deal to race in Europe as rumours mounted that he had landed a ride in place of US-bound countryman Hunter Lawrence.
“I am grateful for the opportunity that Honda 114 Motorsports has presented me,” Evans commented. “Racing in the FIM Motocross World Championship has been a goal of mine since I competed in the world junior championship in 2010. There is a lot for me to learn and I am looking forward to the challenges ahead. I am excited to be racing with the best in the world.”
It was initially thought that Evans had re-signed with Raceline KTM to remain in Australia, however the pair split prior to last year’s AUS-X Open Sydney when it’s understood Evans’ opportunity with Team Honda 114 Motorsports surfaced.
Evans starred last year by finishing second in the MX Nationals MX1 standings behind Dean Ferris, prior to delivering a glowing performance as part of Team Australia at RedBud’s Motocross of Nations. Alongside Lawrence and Kirk Gibbs, the trio placed fourth overall.
Team Honda 114 Motorsports will field Evans and Zachary Pichon – son of multiple world champion Mickael Pichon – in MX2 this season, set to debut when to season commences in Argentina on 2-3 March.
Source: MotoOnline.com.au
Tough European emissions laws threatened to axe several much-loved models last year, but it seems many have had a stay of execution.
The Euro 4 rules introduced in 2016 were almost 50% tougher to pass.
For example, Euro 3 required a motorcycle to pass an emissions test when new, or after 1000km. Under Euro 4 they have to still be compliant after 20,000km or 35,000km depending on the size of the machine.
Because the requirement was so tough, the European Commission (EC) allowed a couple of years for compliance.
That ended on December 31 2018 and many models are now no longer able to be sold in Europe and several other countries that follow the same stringent rules, such as Japan.
The axe has now fallen on most supersport models, many air-cooled bikes, single-cylinder adventurers and most Japanese cruisers.
However, manufacturers are still making some of the models that looked like failing the tougher tests, strictly for markets where the Euro 4 rules do not yet apply. They include Australia, the USA and South Africa.
That is a big enough market to make it economically viable to continue production of bikes that continue to sell well, such as the Suzuki Hayabusa.
The hyperbike will eventually be replaced by an updated Hayabusa, but in the meantime, the factory will continue to make the bike for non-Euro 4 markets.
When it does return to worldwide production, the Hayabusa may not even be Euro 4 compliant.
It may be Euro 5 compliant as that standard is coming in 2020 for new models and 2021 for existing models.
But once again there may be a reprieve from the axe. That’s not because it’s too tough, but simply because the EC has not yet agreed on the exact standards and testing methods.
Since 1999, the motorcycle industry has gone from Euro 0 to Euro 4 and reduced emissions by 91%.
Despite those reductions, most motorcycles are now more powerful and economical than they were at the end of the last millennium.
And even though sceptics said the technology would make motorcycles more expensive, they are no more expensive in real terms.
Euro 5 will lead to new motorcycles that will have a range of solutions to the emissions problem.
That will include, but won’t be limited to, leaner burn, liquid cooling, forced induction, hybrid technology and, of course, electric power.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Resolutions you’ll want to keep
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
The Indian FTR 1200 is the motorcycle that most excited our readers in 2018 and tops our poll of the 2019 models you and we would most like to ride this year.
Throughout the year we have unveiled the many new models that are expected to be released in 2019.
There is a host of new models from just about every manufacturer.
But the model that continually rated the highest in our readership figures was the Indian FTR 1200.
It arrives here this year in several models starting at under $20,000.
Some of the reader interest in the bike was negative after the production model revealed a less aggressive pipe than the prototype.
Even before its release, Indian Motorcycle has announced a host of accessories to customise the bike for touring, flat tracking and rallying.
The next bike to arouse reader interest was a bit of a shock … the Harley-Davidson electric LiveWire.
While the bike will be unveiled next year and we hope to ride it again in September in the USA, it will not be available in Australia until 2020.
If our ride on the initial model in 2014 is any gauge, riders will be in for a real treat on a motorcycle with instant torque and fast acceleration.
At the other end of the scale is the Royal Enfield 650cc twins.
The Interceptor INT naked and Continental GT cafe racer arrive in February starting at $8440.
A motorcycle that has sparked interest for the past couple of years is the long-awaited Yamaha Tenere 700.
It arrives late this year in Australia after being unveiled as the T7 Prototype a couple of years ago.
There is also a lot of interest for the Moto Guzzi V85 TT which arrives mid-year.
It looks like having good off-road ability, but it’s just beautiful to get dirty!
One bike which sparked a lot of interest — both positive and negative — is the return of the venerable Suzuki Katana brand.
Some love the new shape, while diehard fans of the old model say it is an abomination.
There is certainly a lot of interest already and Suzuki Australia says they are already taking $1000 deposits for the bike even though it doesn’t arrive until the third quarter this year and price is not yet known.
Triumph always rates high among our readers, but the model that piqued most interest was the 1200 Scrambler.
We have known it is coming ever since they unveiled the new liquid-cooled models in 2015.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Regulations requiring anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on new motorcycle models this year may not have much of an initial impact on the road toll, experts say.
From November 2019, all new motorcycle models sold in Australia over 125cc must have ABS, while bikes with lower engine capacities must have either combined brakes systems (CBS) or ABS.
But don’t expect a sudden drop in crash deaths, despite the Federal Government declaring it can reduce motorcycle-related road trauma by more than 30%.
That’s mainly due to the fact that most new motorcycles sold in Australia are already fitted with ABS because Europe has had ABS laws since 2016 and Japan introduced them in October this year.
There has been no subsequent decrease in the motorcycle road toll in Europe in the past two years, so we are not sure why our government would assume a magic drop by almost a third in Australia.
Motorcycle Council of NSW chairman Steve Pearce disputes the affect of ABS on the road toll.
“The statistic of 30% is a vehicle-based figure. How many motorcycle crashes involve front-end loss of braking?” he asks.
Critics of ABS say it gives riders a false sense of security that the technology will save them.
In 2016, university safety researcher Ross Blackman criticised a VicRoads brochure that stated: “A motorcycle with ABS enhances your riding skills and techniques by preventing the wheels from locking, skidding and sliding under.”
Quite simply, no technology makes you a better rider. It only helps compensate for poor skills or emergencies, he said.
The VicRoads brochure also suggested riders retro-fit ABS, but there is no known aftermarket product.
VicRoads apologised for the misleading information and error when we pointed them out.
ABS is simply no substitute for good rider skills and the only way to get them is through training and practice.
The new Australian ABS regulations only affect new models made from November 2019.
All other existing models won’t need to be upgraded to ABS until November 2021.
There are exemptions for enduro, trials bikes and trail bikes under 250cc.
If the bike has switchable ABS, the default setting when the bike is turned off and turned back on again will be for ABS to be active. We do not know of a motorcycle that allows ABS to switched off on the fly.
Click here for the full regulations.
CBS is described as any braking system where one control pedal or lever activates some portion of the brakes on front and back wheels.
While ABS is becoming mandatory around the world, the USA has no such requirement.
Europe: Mandatory ABS for all new models above 125cc from January 2016 and for all existing models above 125cc from January 2017. 50cc can have ABS or CBS.
Japan: ABS on new models above 125cc from October 2018 and all existing models above 125cc from October 2021. 50cc must have ABS or CBS.
India: ABS >125cc on new models from April 2018 and all models >125cc from April 2019. Under 125cc ABS or CBS.
China: New models >250cc from July 2019 and existing from July 2020 must have ABS on front and rear wheels. Under 250 ABS or CBS.
Brazil: ABS for 300cc and above ramping up from 2016-19. Below 300cc ABS or CBS, off-road excluded.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
The motorcycle road toll can be reduced by better speed and alcohol/drug use enforcement, safer motorbikes, mandatory helmet laws and improved roads, according to an international report.
These are key points in the latest World Health Organization Global status report on road safety 2018 report released this month. The report is only released every two or three years.
The international report also points out that the motoring fatality and injury rate has remained fairly steady as a proportion of population over the past few years.
In Australia, motorcycle crash fatalities have remained flat since 2011 despite an almost doubling of motorcycle registrations in that time. That actually means a decreasing rate of motorcycle fatalities.
Of course, every death is lamentable, but the selective quoting of motorcycle crash statistics, especially during the Christmas/New Year holiday season, can be misleading.
It also serves to demonise riders as having a death wish and therefore not worthy of consideration by other road users.
The WHO report says progress in reducing road fatalities and injuries has mainly been made in high-income countries.
In these countries, there is a high level of enforcement of speeding and drink driving, ABS on motorcycles (mandatory in Australia for bikes over 125cc from November 219), mandatory helmet (99% compliance in Australia) and improved roads, it says.
No doubt politicians and police will just seize on the first issue to raise speeding fines and enforcement.
But they would be ignoring the fact that this is an international report representing 175 countries. By comparison, the low-income countries included in the report (such as Afghanistan) have little to no enforcement of speed or drug/alcohol-influenced riders, no or lax helmet rules and poor roads.
The only category where Australia compares is in the standard of our roads.
WHO says 67% of motorcycle travel in the world is on substandard roads. That surely must include Australia!
Over the past few years we have reported numerous cases where riders have crashed in unacceptable road conditions thanks to poor design, inferior surfacing and a lack of maintenance.
The WHO report says conditions that make a road unacceptable for motorcycle use include a poor road surface and trees too close to the road. In some states, wire rope “safety” barriers are also too close to the road!
(It also mentions separate motorcycle lanes which some Asian nations with much higher proportions of motorcycles have implemented or are considering. We doubt motorcycles will ever have separate lanes in high-income nations.)
WHO says that by 2030, all new roads should “achieve technical standards for all road users that take into account road safety” and “more than 75% of travel on existing roads is on roads that meet technical standards for all road users”.
That’s a long time to wait for appropriate roads that should have been paid for by our hard-earned taxes.
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
The three most popular articles this year have been about riders successfully obtaining justice either in beating incorrect fines or, in once case, getting a driver fined for road rage. In all cases we are happy to say that Motorbike Writer has played a role.
The most popular article was the end result of last year’s most popular article about a driver who put his arm out the window to stop a Newcastle rider legally filtering through traffic.
We published the original article in November 2017 with this video, but police weren’t interested.
But with pressure from the rider and MBW, police eventually fined the driver in January 2018 under Rule 268 (3): Part of body outside vehicle window/door – $325 fine, 3 demerits.
Without the rider’s helmet camera video, the rider might never have won justice.
It is an important example why some state governments should amend laws to allow cameras on helmets.
The second most popular article was about South Australian police dropping a rider’s fine for standing on the footpegs.
Adelaide rider Tim Byrne says he was fined for standing up while riding through some roadworks in January 2018 despite the practice being legalised in South Australia in 2016 and added to the Australian Road Rules this year.
Click here to read about the new ARRs.
Motorbike Writer then set Tim up with Maurice Blackburn Lawyers who took on the case a pro bono (free) basis as a “matter of principle”.
As a result, a police supervisor decided to drop the fine.
In the third most popular article, Victorian Police withdrew a fine against a rider for not having an external compliance sticker on his Australian-approved motorcycle helmet.
The fact is, you can remove your helmet sticker. Click here to read our advice to riders.
So we suggested rider Alasdair “Ted” Cameron challenge the $371 fine through Maurice Blackburn Lawyers.
Senior associate Katie Minogue said she was confident her client had a “strong enough case” and was looking forward to their day in court.
However, at the last minute, VicPol have withdrawn the fine.
Once again, this means the issue has not been dealt with in court so no legal precedent has been set.
While these were the most popular new articles in 2018, our most popular reads for the year were older advice articles.
Our perennial top read seems to be our tips on washing your motorbike.
Second is an article about the correct tyre pressures for your bike, followed by what are the lowest seat heights with a comprehensive list of all motorcycle seat heights.
They are followed by advice on how to avoid a tank slapper, when to replace your helmet and even how and when to do the motorcycle wave!
Source: MotorbikeWriter.com
Nearly six decades on, and the Norton Manx continues to be raced and refined
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com
The man who turned Royal Enfield into the most successful motorcycle company in the world
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com